Bears on the tube

It was a Charles Dickens-type of day for Cal athletics on Sunday. You know, the best of times, the worst of times.

It was a real treat to see Cal on live TV in two sports simultaneously in the afternoon, rugby on NBC and softball on ESPN. I wonder if that’s ever happened before?

Jack Clark’s Bears looked to have their semifinal game against Dartmouth well in hand in the second half of the Rugby 7’s College Championship, leading 19-7. But defensive lapses and two faulty scrums enabled Dartmouth to get back in the game quickly and win it, to Cal’s chagrin.

The Bears came back to defeat Life University, whatever that is, in the consolation game for third place. Cal rugby in third place just doesn’t sound right, does it?

At the same time, Diane Ninemire’s Bears were facing a must-win game against Alabama in the double-elimination phase of the Women’s College World Series. Stalwart pitcher Jolene Henderson served up too many longballs and the Crimson Tide went on to win 5-2 to eliminate Cal.

Though the results in the two sports were disappointing for Cal fans, at least the brand was on display. These days, a sport is nothing if it’s not on live TV.